A primary role of the State Fire Marshal is to investigate fires, at the request of local fire departments. Deputy Fire Marshals are located throughout the state and are trained to utilize internationally accepted methods and technology to identify the origin of fires.
Deputy Fire Marshals are stationed across the state, with at least one deputy on-call at all times. Local departments requesting the assistance of the State Fire Marshal should contact State Radio, who will notify the on-call deputy. The deputy will coordinate with the local department on logistics and response. State Radio can be contacted toll-free at (800)773-3259.
When on the scene, the Deputy Fire Marshal will investigate the cause of origin and determine if negligent, accidental or malicious behavior is to blame.
Once the investigation is complete, a report is drafted by the Deputy Fire Marshal and approved by the State Fire Marshal. The report only outlines what caused the fire, not identifying a subject for criminal charges. Law enforcement is responsible for identifying perpetrators and bringing criminal charges. The purpose of the State Fire Marshal report is to provide evidence on how and where a fire originated from.